Tag Archives: Commutable from Tokyo

After visiting Kid’s US Land in Higashimatsuyama, I was keen to try out the other branches to see how they compare. On the Internet it looked like the branch in Kamifukuoka (Fujimino) was particularly large, and a trip there this morning confirmed that is it indeed larger than the Higashimatsuyama or Kawagoe branches. It is about 1.5 times larger than Higashimatsuyama and about 3 times larger than the Kawagoe branch! It is bright, airy and spacious. This branch has a lot more equipment than the others and it has fishing and table tennis which the other branches don’t have. All in, you could easily spend at least a half day of fun at Kid’s US Land in Kamifukuoka.

About Kid’s US Land

Membership details for Kid’s US Land

Kid’s US Land is part of a franchise with over 120 stores throughout Japan. This branch is Seiyu Kamifukuoka branch, located on the 3rd floor of Seiyu shopping center. Once you become member of one, you can use any branch with the same membership card. The membership card costs 300 yen *each*, but it is an once off payment. You do not have to pay an annual renewal fee like so many other play centers. It is also quick and easy to make the card; they do not require you to fill out any form. You simply have to sign your name to the back of the card you are given. However, each family member must make a card and if you forget a card on a day that you visit, it costs 100 yen to receive a temporary membership card. If you can’t read Japanese, they have information in English at the reception desk.

Kid’s US Land Seiyu Kamifukuoka

This branch in Kamifukuoka, like the branch in Higashimatsuyama, opened in September 2016. It is on the 3rd floor of Seiyu Kamifukuoka in Fujimino, right beside Kamifukuoka station. It is open from 10 am to 8 pm seven days a week.

Facilities / Equipment

They have the archetypal Kid’s US Land Jungle gym, only its larger than the other branches I have been to. There is a netted swing in it as well as some shooters for firing out balls in a netted area. There is also an obstacle course around the top deck of the jungle gym area.

They also have bouncing castles (plural), one of which has a slide and tunnel in it.

They have a number of push along rides, such as the little Tike cars in the jungle gym area as well as a section for the type of push alongs you operate by steering the handle.

There are four plastic houses for playing house / shop / bank. Each of them has further equipment in them.

This branch has a great selection of Merry-Go-Rounds and coin operated (automated) rides, all included in the price:

There are lots of video and arcade games (not all of them are pictured);

There is also table tennis, air hockey and a small billiard table. The air hockey table is in the background of the massage chairs photo down below. You can just about make out the small billiard table on the middle left of this photo!;

They also have trampolines which are common in most branches. And fishing which they only have in a handful of branches. The latter is about the only thing that costs extra. It is 300 yen for unlimited bait. For the trampoline you have to wear helmets, which are provided.

Trampolines at Kid’s US Land Kamifukuoka

There are large sized blocks and lego blocks for building, as well as some Ultra Man dolls and some puzzles. There is a colouring area too (not pictured). They have one zorb.

Adults can play with most of the equipment and games in the center. There are also massage chairs and a selection of magazines for parents / guardians to use. There are also lots of chairs and tables and you are allowed bring food and drink in from outside.

They have convenience food in the Seiyu store downstairs. I didn’t see any highchairs in this branch. The play area is beside Seiyu’s toilets, one of which has a diaper changing mat. Like the other branches, they run events and you can get up to date information on their blog. Currently, they have a colouring events where kids can get a sweet in exchange for colouring a picture. The pictures are displayed on one of the walls. They are also running a LINE campaign; if you link with them on Line you get to do a lucky dip.

(**I have no affiliation to Kid’s US Land and /or Seiyu, I do not get anything in exchange for my endorsements, all opinions expressed are my own honest observations, the information provided was true {to the best of my knowledge} at the time of publishing).

Cost and Other Information

Everything listed and / or mentioned above is included in the price. It costs 100 yen (before tax) for 15 minutes of play. That is 100 yen for a child older than two (children under two are FREE) and another 100 yen for an adult. If you are planning to stay longer than an hour and 45 minutes on a weekday, it works out cheaper to get the “one day passport”. It is 800 yen per child and 480 yen per adult. On the weekend they don’t have an one day passport for children, just a three hour pack for 980 yen. With all packages and fees you are given a neck strap to wear to identify you have paid in. With the basic price system you pay as you leave the premises and give back the neck strap then. With the day passport, you pay in advance and you are free to go and come as you please. You can even go home and come back if you like! If you are planning to leave Seiyu though, you can give in your neck strap and hold onto your receipt. The receipt allows you to come back at any time during the same day.

There are discounts for groups of over 10 adults and children older than 2 years old. They offer a three hour pack for groups only on weekdays. Further information is available on the Kid’s US Land brand website. If you have a child with a disability and have a caretaker notebook you (the named caretaker) can enter for free.

Access

By car: Parking in the Seiyu car park’s number 1 and 2 is free for the whole day, if you validate your ticket in Kid’s US Land. If you park in the Seiyu Car Park’s further away you can’t get free parking without spending an additional 1,000 yen in Seiyu, which will then allow three hours free parking.

By train: Minutes walk from the Tobu Tojo Line Kamifukuoka Station. From Tokyo the quickest way to Kid’s US Land in Kamifukuoka is to get an express Tobu Tojo Line train from Ikebukuro to Fujimino and transfer on the same platform to a local train to Kamifukuoka. According to Hyperdia it takes 29 minutes this way.

By bicycle: There is a large bicycle park where you can lock a bicycle or bike. There is a bicycle shed within the area.

*Taken from our facebook page Saitama with Kids. *
The summer pools at Seibu Amusement Park opened early in July. The night pool will open on select dates from July 15th. Seibu amusement park and its seasonal pools, beer garden and fireworks are popular with locals and even people commuting from Tokyo and further afield too.

Hours:
9am to 5pm until September 4th. (They will close only 1 day during the season: September 1st).

Seibu Amusement park will open their NIGHT POOL from July 15th on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 9pm in July and from the 15th to the 19th and on Fridays in August.

Cost:
Day pass for adults and children over 15 is 3,000 yen. For kindergarten and primary school aged children and people over 60 the price is 1800 yen for a day pass. Children under 2 are free.

Facilities:
4 pools (1 is massive) which include one 30 cm water depth pool that children in nappies / diapers ARE allowed into. Children over 3 are allowed to zorb on water with a parent. They have an “Hello Kitty Water Park” which is a separate water play area.

Access:
5 minute walk from Seibu Tamako Line Seibu Yuenchi Station and Seibu Line Seibuen Station.
Parking for 1200 cars, costs 1,300 yen for one day until July 31st, 1,500 yen per day from August 1st.
Sat nav/ GPS: phone number 042-922-1371

Other: Seibu Pools, in my experience to date, are the most expensive in Saitama. The amusement park launches fireworks during the summer and the park also has a seasonal beer garden. They have a night pool from July 15th.

Another first that the new Lalaport has brought for West Saitama, is that of a “Mamas’ Club Theatre”. Twice a month on the 3rd floor of Lalaport, Fujimi, in the Toho Cinemas, they have a special baby and toddler friendly showing of a movie. The movie is shown at 9.30am in their biggest theatre, screen 1, with lights on and volume down. Babies and parents are allowed to talk, cry, sing along and just chill out and enjoy a movie in the big screen. This service was started in Tokyo a few years ago. Here is the Japan Times article about it at that time: Babies at the cinema need not be a recipe for disaster | The Japan Times

This coming Thursday the Mamas’ Club Theatrein Lalaport, Fujimi, presents Cinderella. You cannot book in advance for this service. Tickets can be purchased that morning. Parking areas 6 and 7, which are the Kawagoe side of route 254, are beside the cinema. If you park on the 4th floor of either of those lots, you can just walk down a ramp into the 3rd floor of Lalaport. Please be aware that until 10 in the morning you can only access the cinema on the Kawagoe end and the area around Yaoko on the Fujimi end.

One of the many fun and unique attractions of Lalaport in Fujimi is the Steam Locomotive Cafe on the 3rd floor. The cafe, which is also a train shop, features a number of different model railway towns and a plarail display. You can enjoy the displays as you eat your lunch or have a coffee (see the video at the bottom).

On weekdays, the children’s plate (800 yen in 2015) comes on a bullet train plate, as pictured below. They also have a “Nori Tetsu Meat” dish served with a train made out of seaweed. That comes with a half cooked egg though, so if you are buying for a child you might want to request they fully cook the egg! They have a bullet train cake on the menu too. They provide bumper chairs, and crockery and cutlery for children. You help yourself to water. They don’t have toilets in the cafe itself, but you can use Lalaport’s toilets, 2 of which are close by.

Lifelike model railway town

The Steam Locomotive Cafe is open daily from 10am to 9pm, last order for food is 8pm and for drinks it is 8.30pm. The nearest parking is probably car park lot number 2 or 3. The latter is outdoors. All parking in Lalaport is free. TEL: 049-257-6801

THIS POST WAS WRITTEN IN 2013.
I won’t pretend to understand the timing of Autumn Leaves in Japan. The leaves around here have started to fall, but 15 kilometres North West, in Shinrin park, the warm colours are coming into their prime. In theory, as the area is higher ground and further North the leaves should fall before this area…? Regardless, Shinrin park is one of the best places to enjoy Autumn leaves when you have young children.

The leaves have started to change colour, but it will be another week or so until the really vibrant shades can be enjoyed. It is still quite pretty at the moment. The reason I like this park for viewing is that there are plenty of playgrounds to keep the kids entertained while we appreciate the scenery. It is a park that you can spend a full day in with the result it attracts tourists, all year round, from near and far. Many commute from Tokyo and surrounding prefectures to see the leaves and illumination at this time of year. They have a special night-time entry for viewing the leaves with illumination for the month of November and part of December.

The park is vast, 304 hectares, to put that in perspective; 65 times the size of Tokyo Dome! You can’t bring your own bikes into the park, but you can rent a bike. It is 450 yen to rent an adult bike or mamachari for 3 hours, 200 yen for children. They have designated cycling courses. We saw segways today, too. There is also the park bus that goes between the gates of the park and stops at the popular spots en route.

Bikes for hireSegwaysPark Bus

The adventure playground, giant ball play area and the musashi kids dome are close to each other and its easy to walk between each. However, the “ponpoko mountain”, Japan’s largest trampoline, is at least a 20 minute walk away. You can use one of the afore mentioned modes of transport to go from the play areas at the West entrance to the ponpoko mountain near the central gate.

There are many activities and attractions on offer to people of all ages.

ACCESS AND FURTHER DETAILS

Shinrin Park is what the locals call it, but the official name is Musashi-kyuryo National Park.

Address: Hiki-gun, Namegawa-machi, 滑川町Yamata, １９２０

Phone: +81 493-57-2111

Hours: 9.30 am to 4.30 pm **Hours change during the seasons and there are extended hours during winter illumination

Access:

Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro Station

From Shinrin-koen Station on the Tobu Tojo Line

Get off at Shinrin-koen Station on the Tobu Tojo Line, and there is a bus stop and taxi stand at the North Exit. It is approx. a 3 km (approx. 40 min.) walk to the Shinrin Park’s South Gate.

Bus: To Shinrin Park South Exit (Running on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays only), Get on the direct bus to Shinrin-koen,and get off at the last stop

To Kumagaya Sta. South Exit and To Rissho Daigaku, for South gate get off at Namerikawa Chugakko, and walk approx. 5 min. For West Gate, Get off at Shinrin-koen West Ent., and it is directly before you

JR Takasaki Line to Kumagaya

From Kumagaya Station on the JR Takasaki Line

Get off at Kumagaya Station on the JR Takasaki Line, and there is a bus stop at the South Exit.

BUS: To Shinrin-koen Station, For West Gate: Get off at Shinrin-koen West Ent., and it is directly before you. For South Gate: Get off at Shinrin-koen South Ent.,
and it is directly before you

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